safety.docx

Motorcycles are less stable and less visible than cars and often have high performance capabilities. When motorcycles crash, their riders lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle, so they're more likely to be injured or killed. The federal government estimates that per mile traveled in 2012, the number of deaths on motorcycles was over 26 times the number in cars. 1

Because serious head injury is common among fatally injured motorcyclists, helmet use is important. Helmets are about 37 percent effective in preventing motorcycle deaths 2 and about 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries. 3 Yet only 19 states and the District of Columbia mandate helmet use by all riders.

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are not designed for on-highway use, but in recent years more than 300 riders died in crashes on public roads annually.

The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

A total of 4,381 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2013. Motorcyclist deaths had been declining since the early 1980s but began to increase in 1998 and continued to increase through 2008. Motorcyclist deaths decreased by 16 percent in 2009 compared with 2008 and increased slightly in 2010, 2011, and 2012 before decreasing by 7 percent in 2013. Motorcycle deaths accounted for 13 percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths in 2013 and were more than double the number of motorcyclist deaths in 1997.

ear	Passenger vehicle occupant deaths		Motorcyclist deaths		All motor vehicle deaths
ear	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
1975	30,601	69	3,106	7	44,525	100
1976	31,724	70	3,232	7	45,523	100
1977	32,823	69	4,004	8	47,878	100
1978	34,923	69	4,448	9	50,331	100
1979	35,026	69	4,712	9	51,093	100
1980	34,996	68	4,955	10	51,091	100
1981	33,711	68	4,737	10	49,301	100
1982	29,656	67	4,267	10	43,945	100
1983	29,154	68	4,099	10	42,589	100
1984	30,094	68	4,425	10	44,257	100
1985	29,848	68	4,415	10	43,825	100
1986	32,224	70	4,309	9	46,087	100
1987	33,145	71	3,832	8	46,390	100
1988	34,105	72	3,491	7	47,087	100
1989	33,599	74	3,030	7	45,582	100
1990	32,711	73	3,128	7	44,599	100
1991	30,810	74	2,702	7	41,508	100
1992	29,457	75	2,291	6	39,250	100
1993	29,994	75	2,346	6	40,150	100
1994	30,820	76	2,215	5	40,716	100
1995	31,914	76	2,138	5	41,817	100
1996	32,354	77	2,077	5	42,065	100
1997	32,343	77	2,056	5	42,013	100
1998	31,781	77	2,227	5	41,501	100
1999	32,008	77	2,419	6	41,717	100
2000	32,109	77	2,829	7	41,945	100
2001	31,938	76	3,123	7	42,196	100
2002	32,724	76	3,187	7	43,005	100
2003	32,166	75	3,641	8	42,884	100
2004	31,750	74	3,904	9	42,836	100
2005	31,455	72	4,460	10	43,510	100
2006	30,628	72	4,699	11	42,708	100
2007	29,155	71	5,050	12	41,259	100
2008	25,547	68	5,112	14	37,423	100
2009	23,507	69	4,286	13	33,883	100
2010	22,351	68	4,324	13	32,999	100
2011	21,413	66	4,403	14	32,479	100
2012	21,906	65	4,695	14	33,782	100
2013	21,268	65	4,381	13	32,719	100

Passenger vehicle and motorcycle driver deaths by driver's license status, 2003-2013

Year

Passenger vehicle drivers

Motorcycle drivers

No valid license

Valid license

Total*

No valid license

Valid license

Total*

Number

2004	3,024	14	18,726	85	21,952	100	866	24	2,702	75	3,593	100
2005	3,154	15	18,572	85	21,953	100	1,002	24	3,116	75	4,142	100
2006	3,423	16	17,941	83	21,592	100	1,134	26	3,219	73	4,387	100
2007	3,206	15	17,142	83	20,542	100	1,239	26	3,461	73	4,740	100
2008	2,702	15	15,399	84	18,266	100	1,190	24	3,561	74	4,782	100
2009	2,407	14	14,294	85	16,834	100	886	22	3,077	77	3,987	100
2010	2,273	15	13,672	85	16,029	100	874	21	3,127	78	4,022	100
2011	2,254	15	13,225	85	15,561	100	891	21	3,210	78	4,120	100
2012	2,366	15	13,464	85	15,915	100	1,049	24	3,296	75	4,381	100
2013	2,305	15	13,138	85	15,530	100	1,045	26	3,049	74	4,126	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to experience a deadly accident on the road than those in passenger cars.
In 2006, 88,000 motorcyclists were injured in highway accidents alone.
In 2006, 4,810 motorcyclists were killed in road accidents.
11 percent of all roadway accidents that occur in the United States involve motorcycles.
Head injury is the leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes.
A motorcyclist not wearing a helmet is 40 percent more likely to die of a head injury than one who wears a helmet.
A motorcyclist not wearing a helmet is 15 percent more likely to suffer a nonfatal injury than one who wears a helmet.
It is estimated that helmets reduce the likelihood of a crash fatality by 37 percent.
In 2007, a total of 7.1 million motorcycles were registered in the U.S.
In 2005, the motorcycle fatality rate was 73 per 100,000 registered motorcycles; meanwhile, the passenger vehicle fatality rate in the same year was 14 per 100,000 registrations.
Motorcycle use is growing disproportionately to fatality growth. For instance, in 1997 there were 3,826,373 motorcycles registered in the U.S. and 2,116 motorcycle fatalities. In 2005, there were 6,227,146 motorcycles registered in the U.S. and 4,810 motorcycle fatalities. So, between 1997 and 2005, registrations grew 63 percent while fatalities more than doubled.

A 2009 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Highway Loss Data Institute report found that:

More than half of motorcyclist deaths involved at least one other vehicle.

42 percent of two-vehicle fatal motorcycle crashes involved a vehicle turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing, or overtaking the vehicle.

A little less than half of all motorcycle driver deaths involved no other vehicle.

Of the 1,791 motorcycle deaths that involved only the motorcyclist

48 percent were speeding.
42 percent had blood alcohol concentrations of 0.08 percent or higher.

655,000 motorcycles were purchased, a decrease from 1.1 million in 2008.

Possible Causes of a Motor Vehicle Accident

Poor weather conditions;
Not utilizing a turn signal;
Lane splitting, i.e. when a motorcyclist drives between two lanes;
Ignoring traffic conditions;
Ignoring traffic signs;
Disobeying speed limitations;
Driving on the wrong side of the road;
Not seeing a motorcyclist due to glare or other view obstructions;
Inexperienced motorists;
Driving while under the influence of drugs;
Vehicle defects;
Roadway defects;
Intentional hostile actions

However, the primary reason for motorcycle accidents is that motorcycles offer little protection when a collision occurs. Although helmets can save lives, motorcyclists have little else to rely on should a crash occur.

Helmet Statistics

According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Administration (GHSA), wearing helmets is the single best way to prevent motorcycle accident fatalities, with a rate 0f 37% for riders and 41% for passengers.

In 2008, 43% of all victims that were fatally injured in a motorcycle accident were not wearing helmets.
In 2009, 44% of all victims fatally injured in a motorcycle accident were not wearing helmets.
NHTSA determined that at least 1,829 lives were saved in 2008 because riders were wearing helmets, and an additional 822 victims would have lived had they used a helmet.
According to the Department of Transportation, only the District of Columbia and 19 states mandate universal helmet laws, even though research have proven that helmet use is the easiest way to help saves lives during a motorcycle accident.
Seven states have repealed the universal helmet law since 1997: Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Florida, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and Michigan.
According to GHSA, helmet use drops significantly when helmet use is repealed.
Fatalities increased in all seven states that repealed helmets laws, with Louisiana coming in 1st with a fatality increase of 108%.
In 2004, nationwide helmet use increased. As a result, motorcycle accident fatality rates drastically decreased.

Alcohol and Motorcycle Accident Statistics

According to NHTSA, in 2010, a total of 29% of fatal motorcycle accidents involved riders with a blood alcohol level above the legal nationwide limit, .08.
In 2005, one in every three motorcycle accidents was a result of riding under the influence of alcohol.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults between the ages of 40 through 44 have had increased alcohol-related motorcycle accidents. However, young adults between the ages of 20 through 24 still lead as the age group with the most alcohol-related motorcycle crashes.
In 2006, close to 4% of all victims involved in a fatal motorcycle accident had at least one prior alcohol-related conviction. Only 2.9% of car drivers involved in fatal accidents had prior convictions.

Speeding and Motorcycle Accident Statistics

According to the NHTSA, 37% of all motorcycle accidents in 2006 involved speeding.
In 2008, 35% of all fatal motorcycle accidents were the result of speeding.
Close to half of all motorcycle accidents do not involve another vehicle. Instead, speeding was the main contribution. Of the other half of motorcycle accidents which involve another vehicle, speeding is one of the leading factors of accidents as well.
GHSA has determined that stronger law enforcement in high-target areas for motorcycle speeding will likely reduce motorcycle accidents.
Motorcyclists speeding while not wearing protective gear, such as helmets, more than double their risk of a potential fatal motorcycle accident.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics and Possible Causes

Motorcycle accidents almost always result in injuries, extensive medical bills, and treatments. This in turn can lead to lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional turmoil, and much more. Victims deserve to be compensated for the negligence of another party. If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, you have legal rights, and may be entitled to financial compensation.

Keep in mind that you’ll have a much better chance at winning the maximum financial compensation you deserve if you retain an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. A leading motorcycle accident lawyer knows and understand the complex set of laws and standards that come along with motorcycle collisions.